Yorkshire's new 'signing'

The 2000 cricket season sees an exciting addition for Yorkshire Phoenix. Scorch, their new 6ft, friendly mascot came to the team via a quite unconventional route. Rather than being spotted by Martyn Moxon, or climbing the ranks in Club Cricket, Scorch was discovered in the tea factory at Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea.

One day during the winter whilst the latest consignment of tea was being unpacked Scorch was found hiding in the bottom of one of the tea chests. The tea in question is cultivated on the slopes of the Mount Scorchio Volcano, in Sumatra so the staff decided to call him Scorch.

Initially Scorch was given a job in the tasting department, but it was found he was unable to distinguish between a delicate Darjeeling and a powerful Lapsang Souchong. To make matters worse Scorch was pining for home and generally seemed very unhappy. The only thing that did seem to cheer Scorch up was the picture of Herbert Sutcliffe on the side of the Yorkshire Tea box, so Headingley stepped in and saved the day by adopting him as their mascot.

Scorch has learned a lot about cricket through watching the team train and believes that success is on the cards. He has been practising his batting in a style not dissimilar to that of Michael Vaughan. However his bowling technique needs quite a lot of work to be up to the standards of Gough and Silverwood.

David Byas, Captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, said, " Scorch is already proving to be a great boost to the team. He is very friendly and seems to love cricket, we believe he will be a great asset to Yorkshire".

Scorch will be making his first public appearance at WHSmiths, Leeds City Station between 5pm and 6.30pm. His Headingley debut will be on Sunday 7th May v Worcestershire.